Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 25
HALELVJAH. Or, Britan's Second Remembrancer. Imprinted 1641.
THis Firſt Part of a Review of Neglected Precautions, Predictions and Remembrances, was begun with the Author's firſt Book, called Britans Remembrancer; and this Second Remembrancer ſhall conclude it: For, though compoſed in a Mode much differing from the former, it was an Expedient which might have produced good Effects, had it not been as much neglected as all other good means are to this day. It is our duty to make trial of another way, when one fails; and the Prophets are herein exemplary to us, who often declared the ſame Truths in various dreſſings, and otherwhile in the ſame words, when the ſame or like Occaſions were given. That Book containing Two hundred thirty three ſpiritual Hymns and Songs; is too large to be abreviated; and therefore to inſtance the uſefulneſs of the reſt, here ſhall be inſerted but two or three Hymns out of each Book, the firſt relating to particular Occaſions; the ſecond to Times; the third to Perſons; that all men of all ſorts, might be thereby minded of their Duties at all Times, and upon all Occaſions, as appears by this brief Narration.
A Friend of the Author's, much affecting that Expedient, (as tending to the advance both of Morality and Virtue, diſtributed many of the Books among his Acquaintance, at his own coſt, and recommended one of them to a Perſon of Quality, who loved Song and Muſick; but before he had read two lines thereof, he rejected it with much contempt; whereupon the other ſomewhat grieved, asked the reaſon of his diſlike, and received this Anſwer; Such a Character of it hath (ſaid he) been given by a Learned and Pious Divine, upon whoſe Judgment I relye, that I will not loſe time in peruſing it. Yet at laſt being importuned, he took it up, and turning to a Song which was to him inſtanced as demonſtrating the frothineſs of all the reſt, he began to read it aloud in ſlighting manner, and in a ridiculous Tone; but after the reading of a few lines, changing his voice, ſate ſtill a good ſpace, peruſing it in ſilence; then ſuddenly ſtarting up, ſaid thus to his Friend, I heartily thank you for this Book, and for importuning me to read it; I hope alſo, it ſhall teach me whilſt I live, not to depend upon the Judgment of other men, (how religious or judicious ſoever they ſhall be reputed) in thoſe things wherein I ought to uſe my own underſtanding as well as theirs. This is the effect of what was told the Author, and it is here inſerted, in hope it may make ſome other as wiſe as that Gentleman.
The Author in his Epiſtles before the whole, and each particular Book of that Volume, hath expreſſed by way of Preoccupat…on, ſomewhat to prevent prejudice▪ and if it had been contemplatively and actually made uſe of according to his intention and propoſals, might perhaps have reduced this Generation to a better temper then Precepts without Practiſe have effected; and made thoſe vain Songs leſs delighted in, which are become ſo numerous, and ſo affected, that pious Meditations are nigh quite out of faſhion with many; for, not in private onelyonly, but at publike Feaſts and Meetings alſo, scurrilous and obſcene Songs are impudently ſung without reſpect to the preſence of Matrons, Virgins, Magiſtrates and Divines; yea, ſometimes are in their deſpight called for, ſung, and acted with ſuch abominable geſticulations, as are offenſive to all modeſt hearers and beholders; and befitting onelyonly the Solemnities of Bacchus, Venus, and Priapus; for the aboliſhing of which Abuſe, the Author was a Petitioner that ſome proviſion might be made; and prepared alſo this Expedient to promove it; but the carnal prophaneſs of ſome, and the ſullen Religiouſneſs of others, who cauſleſly pretended a Superſtitious Deſign to be therein couched, hath hitherto vacated both his hope and pious Endeavours, notwithſtanding all his Precautions.
An Occaſional Hymn when we firſt awake in the Morning.
DEar GOD! who watch doſt keep
Round all that honour thee,
To thy Beloved giveſt ſleep,
When Reſt ſhall needful be.
My Soul returns thee praiſe,
That thus refreſh'd I am,
And that my Tongue a Voice can raiſe,
To praiſe thee for the ſame.
2 As now my ſoul doth ſhake
Dull ſleep out of mine eyes,
So let thy Spirit me awake,
That I from ſin may riſe.
The Night is paſt away,
Which fill'd us full of fears,
And we enjoy another Day,
Wherein thy Grace appears.
3 Oh! let me therefore ſhun
All Errors of the Night;
Thy Righteouſneſs let me put on,
And walk as in the Light.
Protect me from his Pow'r,
(Since I on thee relye)
Who walks in darkneſs to devour,
When our long ſleep draws nigh.
4 Grant when the Trump ſhall ſound
A ſummons from the Grave,
My Body then may from the ground
A bleſſed riſing have.
That whatſoe're the dreams
Of my Corruption be,
The Viſion of thy glorious Beams
May bring full joyes to me.
A Hymn when day-light appears.
LOok forth mine eye, look up and view
How bright the day-light ſhines on me;
And, as the Morning doth renew,
Mark how renew'd GOD's Mercies be.
Behold, the ſplendors of the Day
Diſperſe the ſhadows of the Night;
And, they who late in darkneſs lay,
Have now the Comfort of the light.
2 Nor Twilight-Plagues, nor Midnight-fears,
Nor mortal or immortal Foes,
Had pow'r to take us in their ſnares;
But ſafe we ſlept, and ſafe aroſe.
And to thoſe dayes which we have had,
He that is Lord of Day and Night,
Another Day vouchſafes to add,
That our loſt hours redeem we might.
3 It is too much to have made void
So many dayes already paſt;
Let this therefore be ſo employ'd,
As if we knew it were our laſt.
Moſt creatures now themſelves advance,
Their Morning-ſacrifice to bring;
The Herds do skip, the Flocks do dance,
The Winds do pipe, the Birds do ſing.
4 Lord, why ſhould theſe that were decreed
To ſerve thee in a lower place,
In thankful duties us exceed,
Who have obtained ſpecial Grace?
We are oblig'd much more then thoſe,
Our Voice in thankfulneſs to raiſe;
Therefore, oh GOD! our lips uncloſe,
And teach our Tongues to ſing thy praiſe.
5 Let heart, and hand, and voice accord
This day to magnifie thy Name;
And let us ev'ry day, oh Lord!
Endeavour to perform the ſame.
So, when that Morning doth appear,
In which thou ſhalt all fleſh deſtroy,
We ſhall not then awake in fear,
But riſe to meet thy Son with joy.
A Hymn when we are putting on our APPAREL.
LORD, had not man ſought out by ſin
What was untimely known,
His nakedneſs unfelt had bin,
And wiſer he had grown.
But in the ſtead of what he thought
By lawleſs means to know,
The knowledg of thoſe things was taught,
Which bringeth ſenſe of wo.
2 Had he as forward ſtrove to be,
The Fruit of Life to taſt,
As on the Death-procuring-Tree
A luſtful eye to caſt,
The happineſs for him prepar'd
In ſoul he had obtain'd,
And in his Body alſo ſhar'd
The bliſs for him ordain'd.
3 But ſince the fleſh did preſs to ſee
Her wants before the time,
Both ſoul and fleſh afflicted be
For that preſumptuous Crime.
And cumbred ſo with pain and care,
For Clothing and for Food,
That little their Endeavours are,
To ſeek their chiefeſt good.
4 Lord, with a Roſe of Innocence,
Thy Servant ſo array,
That it may take the painful ſenſe
Of outward wants away.
So clothe me with thy Righteouſneſs,
That (though defil'd I am)
I may not by my nakedneſs
Expoſed be to ſhame.
5 Let not the Garments which I wear
My tender fleſh to hide,
Be either made a luſtful Snare,
Or nouriſhments of Pride;
But be remembrances to ſhow
The folly of that deed
By which man fell, and fell ſo low,
As thoſe baſe Rags to need.
The Second Temporary Hymn. A Temporary Hymn for the Firſt Day of the Week, commonly called the Lords-Day, or Sunday.
GReat Lord of Time, great King of Heav'n,
Since weekly thou renew'ſt my dayes,
To thee ſhall daylie thanks be giv'n,
And weekly Sacrifice of Praiſe.
This day the Light (Time's eldeſt born)
Her glorious Beams did firſt diſplay;
And then the Evening and the Morn
Did firſt obtain the Name of Day.
2 The Depth with Darkneſs then empal'd,
(That out of which the World was made)
And, which deep Waters thou haſt call'd,
Upon this Day beginning had.
And, as upon this Day it was
In which Creation firſt begun,
So on this Day the work of Grace
In ev'ry circumſtance was done.
3 For, on this Day thy Chriſt aroſe,
And Victor over Death became▪
This Day he conquer'd all his Foes,
And put them to perpetual ſhame.
Upon this Day it pleaſed thee
Thy holy Spirit down to ſend,
That men with Gifts might furniſh'd be,
Thy Goſpel's Preaching to attend.
4 This day therefore we ſet apart
For holy Reſt, and holy Rites;
And ev'ry ſanctified heart
To celebrate this day delights.
Except thereto compell'd by need,
Works for the Body we forbear,
That in thoſe works we may proceed,
Which for the ſouls health needful are.
5 Therefore that now to thee, oh Lord,
A due Oblation bring I may,
Thus to thine Honor I record,
And ſing the Bleſſings of this day.
So let me ſing, ſo mind them ſtill,
And all my life ſo thankful be,
That when my Courſe I ſhall fulfil,
I may acceptance find with thee.
6 Diſcretion grant me ſo to know
What Sabbath-Rites thou doſt require;
And Grace my duty ſo to do,
That I may keep thy Law intire.
Not doing what ſhould not be done,
Nor ought omitting, fit to do;
Nor over-burth'ning any one
With more then thou enjoin'ſt them to.
7 But, let me reſt my body ſo,
That to my Soul I do no wrong;
Or, in Devotion heedleſs grow,
What to my Body's reſt belong:
That both in Soul and Body, Lord,
I may ſtill hallow ev'ry day
According to thy Holy Word,
And have true Reſt in thee for ay.
The Third Temporary Hymn. For MONDAY.
THis Morning brings to mind, oh GOD,
Thy forming of this Airy Sphere,
And ſpreading of that Orb abro'd,
Wherewith we now ſurrounded are.
It was the Fabrick which thy hand
Vouchſaf'd upon this day to frame;
And, bounding Waters under land
From thoſe which are above the ſame.
2 This Airy Firmament both keeps
All breathing Creatures here below,
From ſuffocation in thoſe Deeps
Whereon, till then, no wind did blow.
To us this Firmament convayes
Thoſe Dews and Show'rs which oft we need,
And all thoſe pleaſant Summer-dayes
Whence Profits and Delights proceed.
3 Yea, by this Firmament we gain
The Viſion of refreſhing Light;
And thereby do as well obtain
The uſe of hearing, and of ſight.
For this dayes Workmanſhip, oh Lord,
I praiſe thee now, and humbly pray,
That I may thankfully record
Thy daily Bleſſings ev'ry day.
A Perſonal Hymn for a Soveraign PRINCE.
BY me, or by my Father's Houſe
Deſerv'd it could not be,
That I, or any one of us
Obtained this Degree.
But GOD who dealeth forth his own,
As him it liketh beſt,
On me thoſe Honours hath beſtown,
Whereof I am poffeſt.
2 Great hazards many undergo,
Such Titles to acquire,
Yet neither find content below,
Or means of riſing higher.
What therefore can I leſs repay,
To him whoſe Gift it is,
Then otherwhile to ſing or ſay
Some ſuch like Hymn as this?
3 Let me, O Lord, my Diadem
Unto thy Glory wear,
And be a Bleſſing unto them
Who my Leige People are.
Let not thy favours make my heart
To ſwell with wanton Pride;
Or, from thoſe Precepts to depart,
Which ought to be my Guide.
4 But make me ſtill in mind to bear,
From whom this Throne I had,
And that they my own Brethren are
Who Ruler I was made.
Yea, cauſe me evermore to heed
That I and they are thine,
Although to ſerve the Publike need,
Their Goods and Lives are mine.
5 Since ev'ry Subjects Cauſe to me
Should equally be dear,
In Judgment let the poor man be
As precious as the Peer.
And, leſt for them we ſnares may make
At my chief Council-bo'rd,
Lord let me dayly Counſel take
From thy Truth-ſpeaking-Word.
6 Thoſe Traitors chaſe out of my Court,
Who dare pervert the Laws,
Or, cauſe me by a falſe report,
To wrong an honeſt Cauſe.
And, let thy Judgments them devour,
How high ſoe're they ſtand
Who ſhall abuſe my Royal Pow'r,
To hinder thy Command.
7 Within my Realms let no man dare
My Statutes to gainſay;
And, let me live in as much fear,
Thy Laws to diſobey.
So I and they whom thou on me,
For Subjects haſt beſtown,
Shall in each other bleſſed be,
And keep Sedition down.
8 Preſerve to me my Royal Dues,
And Grace vouchſafe me ſtill,
My juſt Prerogative to uſe
According to thy Will;
That evil men may dread my frown,
The Righteous comfort find,
And I obtain a better Crown
When this muſt be reſign'd.
Here ends the Firſt Part of this Review, to which a Second Part ſhall be added as GOD enables and permits.
A POSTSCRIPT.
THE uncertainty and changeableneſs of all temporal things, make us accordingly mutable in our Purpoſes. And whereas the Author of the ſeveral Books here abreviated, intended a Retirement to a ſolitary Habitation in the place of his Nativity, (upon ſuch Conſiderations as were expreſſed in the Preface of this Review) his Friends reſident in and near London, not approving thereof, have perſwaded him to the contrary, by making it probable, That future Inconveniences would be thereby rather multiplied then diminiſhed: Now therefore, by conſidering therewithall, That where GOD's Judgments are moſt viſible, his Mercy will be there as much evidenced to all who love and truſt unfeignedly in him, he reſolveth to continue where he is, until he can ſtay there no longer, leſt he may bury himſelf alive by removing far from them, by whoſe Charity GOD hath hitherto preſerved him.
There are Faults eſcaped in the Imprinting or Tranſcribing of this Review; which the Author's late Sickneſs diſabled him to take notice of: The Readers are therefore deſired to correct and amend them according to their own diſcretion.
The Names of thoſe Printed Books heretofore written by GEORGE WITHER, out of which this Firſt Part of this Review of Neglected Remembrances, Precautions and Predictions was collected; mentioning the years in which they were the First or Second time Imprinted.
BRitans Remembrancer, Imprinted 1627. pag. 1.
The Author's Motto, Nec Habeo, Nec Careo, Nec Curo, Imprinted 1618. p. 47.
Campo Muſae, or Field-Muſings, Impr. 1644. p. 49.
The Dark Lanthorn, Imprinted 1650. p. 57.
The Perpetual Parliament, Imprinted 1650. p. 69.
The Author's Emblems, Imprinted 1634. p. 78.
An Interjection, being a ſudden Ejaculation caſt in, at the Collecting of this Review, p. 85.
Vaticinium Cauſuale, Imprinted 1655. p. 100.
Verſes to the Kings Majeſty, Imprinted 1662. p. 103.
A Thankful Retribution, Imprinted 1649. p. 109.
Boni Ominis Votum, Imprinted 1656. p. 115.
A Si Quis, or Queries, Imprinted 1648. p. 119.
The Author's Petition, Imprinted 1648. p. 125.
The Tyred Petitioner, Imprinted without date p. 128.
Se Defendendo, Imprinted without date. p. 132.
Juſtitiarius Juſtificatus, Impr. without date. p. 131.
Vox Pacifica, Imprinted 1645. p. 132.
Carmen Expoſtulatorium, Imprinted 1647. p. 146.
Letters of Advice, Imprinted 1644. p. 152.
A Cauſe Allegorically ſtated, Impr. 1657. p. 159.
Mercurius Ruſticus, Imprinted without date. p. 161.
What Peace to the Wicked, Imprinted 1646. p. 163.
An Addreſs to the Members of Parliament, imprinted 1657. p. 175.
Halelujah, or Britan's Second Remembrancer, imprinted 1641. p. 183.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, Echos from the Sixth Trumpet (1666)